Tyler Strothman – Veloci Running
Tyler Strothman, a recent graduate of Rice University, is the founder of the Veloci Running company. Raised in Indiana, Strothman moved to Houston, Texas to pursue a degree in sports management and a minor in entrepreneurship. While still deciding what career path he wanted to follow, Tyler Strothman knew he wanted to impact the running community, as it had been a large part of his life for over twelve years.
As a D1 cross country and track and field athlete at Rice, Strothman began to experience foot pain from the narrow and cramped toe box of his standard running shoe. While searching for more options, he found that the more minimalist approach on shoes with a wider toe box caused lower leg and hamstring pain. Frustrated by having to compromise standards of comfort for another, Strothman decided to create his own running shoe from his very own garage.
Over his years at Rice University, Strothman took many internships with brands such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Fleet Feet running store, as well as a management internship at Rice’s Department of Athletics. These, he says, immensely impacted his journey when creating Veloci Running.
Veloci running shoes are like no other. With an elevated heel that reduces tension in the Achilles and calf muscles, the shoe also has a wider, more naturally shaped toe box to create maximum foot comfort and significantly take pressure off the toe. The heel drop takes pressure off the foot and ankle and redistributes it to the knee and hip, providing support for those with less mobility in the ankle. Additionally, Veloci uses high quality impact protection that helps the shoe absorb most of the impact instead of letting it be absorbed by the body’s joints.
While Veloci is still a relatively new brand, Tyler Strothman is hoping for it to become well-known in the running community very soon. While Veloci began in Strothman’s garage, he now has 15,000 shoes in his townhouse ready to be sold. The brand’s first shoe was launched in 2025, with new models and colors soon to be announced.
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I like how Tyler saw a problem and worked to fix that problem. the problem was especially specific to him and he had first hand experience with it which can help one innovate in a deeper way. I also like the ways in which the shoes improve running and performance, giving specific examples of how it is different from your typical running shoe. Great job!
Wow! Quite a current start up. What a well-researched solution to an issue even recreational runners struggle with. I like how you included his background in running and how his passion for running without pain became a business. He definitely chose the right major and minor to accent his start up.
I’ve seen shoes marketed toward this idea of a “free foot” with the wider toe box but have never seen it applied to athletic shoes. The shoe market is very monopolized but that’s great that he was able to get his business started up at such a young age. You can tell more than just one person saw a problem with the traditional running shoe.
I like how personal the problem was for Tyler that he had to solve. He really looked at his own life and tried to make it better, while also solving problems for more people than just himself. It is truly inspiring to see him better the world by making it less painful.
As a former cross country and track and field runner I can 100% relate to Tyler’s problem with running shoes. He saw that current methods for trying to resolve lower body pain were ineffective and took it upon himself to find a solution. I really hope his idea becomes successful so other runners don’t have to deal with any injuries early on in their careers.
I absolutely love this story! Tons of runners experience the same problems Tyler did with running shoes being too narrow and increased tension in the achilles from poorly made shoes. Great idea and product execution!
Wow, what an amazing story and startup! Tyler’s story resonates with so many other runners who run into the same issues he did, and when they hear a brand meshes with their lifestyle, they will flock. I have had trouble finding soccer cleats that are wide enough for my feet, so I hope a product like this comes out for cleats as well, not just running shoes.